Shed Plans

Written by Jeremy Horelick

If you're looking to build a small greenhouse, barn, or other free-standing structure in your backyard, a good set of shed plans will prove invaluable. Even if you've completed dozens of similar projects in the past (maybe via your contracting or construction career), each new effort presents its own unique challenges. Only the foolhardy race into the building phase without careful preparation.

Maybe you want a better tool shed to store your prized collection of wood lathes and electric log splitters. Or perhaps you're looking for a solarium that will afford your plants the light they need in order to thrive. Obviously, the two projects have very different specifications, which is why a good blueprint is imperative. If your tools get too much light and your crocuses are in reach of the electrical sockets, you've done something horribly wrong.

Following Your Shed Plans

Sticking to your shed plans is easy, provided you have the proper equipment to complete each task. Your blueprint and instructions will call for boards to be measured and cut, sanded, finished, and joined. You'll have framing requirements that call for a good miter saw for bevel work. You may even need a router for your trim, depending on the style of shed you're building.

Without the right supplies, you can end up spinning your wheels instead of moving forward on construction. Building a shed may seem straight-forward compared with installing a pool or deck, but that can be misleading. For a design that's both functional and aesthetically sound, there's no substitute for following your shed plans to the letter.